Wife Doesn't Like to Watch Sports

I love watching sports. Around the time I stopped playing sports I did not watch sports on TV for years. I guess considering myself an athlete in those early years and not making it to a professional level deeply depressed me and turned me off from watching or following sports. It takes awhile for this healing to occur, and believe me it does not help to have teammates and buddies make it to the pros, but eventually the jealousy goes away and even though you feel like a dope you proudly mention that you played with so-and-so way back when and then smartly leave it at that. During my time as I non sports watcher I immersed my time in primarily drinking beer and dating women (which was great mind you). But there was a day, and I cannot recall the exact moment, but I again returned to watching sports and it was great.

For many a year I lived with, what you would call live-in girlfriends.  Being a sports watcher and living with a girl for a year or two is no problem at all.  Well, it might be an issue with her, but it is likely that if you find yourself in one of these domestic situations that you are probably splitting the bills and maybe even have more than one TV, and therefore have more than one leg to stand on in your debate about your sports watching.  Also, if I may make the observation that if you are living with a girl (and not married) that she is likely to be more forgiving of the time you devote to the tube or your favorite sport, team, league, etc.  Perhaps because she figures when you two are married you will devote most if not all the time to her, your kids, and making money to support the union.

Also, take into the equation that if you are merely living together one of you is fairly serious about the other, and I would say that the woman is more interested in marrying the man than vice versa.  Men can live with a woman in this society today with little to no questions asked by their peers.  On the flip side, women will have a lot to answer for.  The most common questions for a woman that has just shacked up with a guy are: Are you guys serious? Are you going to get married?  When?  How many kids do you guys want?  And the questions go on with increased intensity.

If you are a big sports nut and wake up with Sports Center or maybe some Mike and Mike in the Morning then I would not hide it from your new girlfriend (or for you female sports nuts your new boyfriend). Hiding your sports watching is the worst thing you can do. In fact hiding anything that you enjoy doing will come back and bite you later in the relationship. Why? Because women don't like hiding and they really don't like you having fun without them (this will include actually participating in sports without your wife or girlfriend).

Come clean right off the bat that you like watching sports. Hell, do it when you meet them for the first time at the bar with your wingmen if you like. Watching sports on TV is right there with playing video games for many and while women will laugh and make fun of you as if you are some sort of nerd or weirdo, they will ultimately come to realize that most men enjoy watching sports and playing video games (unless the woman is over 50). There is nothing wrong with watching sports as some women would like you to believe, but like I said, get it out in the open early.

Developing a sports watching routine early will help out in your relationships with women. I feel if you have a routine of sorts then you are sort of excused for those time slots. Here is my routine in a nutshell.

NFL

I am actually lucky because my wife enjoys watching our home team play, so naturally I am in the clear for those games. Pre-season games are hit and miss in my opinion, I still watch them but if pressed to spend time with the wife I just watch the first quarter with the 1st team in and then turn it off (this makes you look like you are making a sacrifice). For the regular season at the start I will watch what I can but I have to watch football on the important nights.

I will watch Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football no matter who plays. As the season goes on if there are important games that have play-off implications then I will tune in for those as well. Play-offs games are a must as well, not to mention the Super Bowl.

Guys, if your woman doesn't want to watch the Super Bowl I am sorry. Try the "everybody watches for the commercials" trick or get invited to a Super Bowl party. More than likely there will be lots of other wives and girlfriends huddled in the kitchen that don't like sports, which will make your significant other happy, but probably won't do wonders for your relationship. When sports hating people get together they infect each other with each others disgust of sports and sports watching men. So, beware of the above method, we don't want to make matters worse do we? 

MLB

There is a ton of baseball on TV without ever needing to get the MLB package. It's America's pastime and it is free to watch. Baseball is not my favorite sport to watch but after the Stanley Cup Playoffs it is really MLB or bust. And let's face it the beginning and ending of the season is when it is best to be a TV viewer.

I follow one team, but like all other Americans we are somewhat forced to watch (by ESPN and other sports networks the popular teams) the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Phillies. One program that is the must watch game of the week is Sunday Night Baseball. You can't beat the broadcast and the production of the show. Sunday Night Baseball is on my list and in my routine.

NHL

I love to watch hockey and get to watch and follow 2 teams that I can see games according to where I live and my Directv (I don't order Center Ice anymore). I also try to see the games on the major networks on Saturdays. Of course, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are on my list, but I only get to watch two teams and if they don't make it in I have to wait till the playoffs are on major networks.

NBA

I am not a huge NBA fan, but totally understand if you are. I come from a city that doesn't have a team and maybe that is why I never really got NBA in my blood. I will watch the finals and I love to watch when I have money on the game. I like to play the over under on basketball.

PGA

Nothing like a Sunday afternoon after lunch watching a little PGA action. Though I probably won't watch unless is Sunday and the action is close. That goes for all my sports watching really. Once it becomes a blow out I am surfing the channels looking for another game (that is competitive).

NASCAR and other Racing

I love it, though I admit to switching back and forth to the race from other games on at the same time. To help get your wife or girlfriend into Nascar, take her to a race. There is nothing like the excitement at a motor race to help your significant other get excited about the sport that you love. To go all out you have to have a pit pass. It is pricey but it is worth it.

I am not addicted to watching sports but I do like to watch it live and often. For me it is a healthy way to relax with a beer and maybe some snacks after working all day . If your wife or girlfriend absolutely refuses to watch or gets angry at you for watching then try to work out a schedule that is acceptable to both of you. She may want you to watch Survivor or Intervention or some other show that she likes and I think you should be able to do it (as long as it does not coincide with an important game).

There is a lot of technology these days for the sports watcher with an angry anti-sports wife. There are mobile TVs, Tivo and other recording devices, the internet, online sports packages, and the list goes on. The point here though is not to hide your sports viewing and try to work out a schedule of sports watching that works out for the both of you.

Most men these days have the man cave thing going on which may work well for your situation. I don't have one and really don't envy those that do. I feel I ought to be able to watch my sports in the family room near other people (my wife), beverages, and food. Try your best to get your wife interested in the things you like and do the best to take an interest in the things she likes. One of the best ways to get women interested in pro sports is to take them to a game. While they may not like watching it on TV , they will most likely enjoy going to a live event.